Job title: Housing Support Officer
Reporting to: Housing Support Service Lead
Staff reporting: N/A
Tasks
- To carry out Personal Housing Plans and Risk assessments
- To support clients in meeting their set goals set in accordance to their Personal Housing Plans
- To work with clients to understand their housing and support needs, as well as their ambitions, strengths and talents, with a view to increase their ability to cope and live independently
- To provide support and advice to vulnerable people to enable them to manage their tenancies
- To assist clients in reporting repairs
- To maintain regular contact with clients to support them to implement their Personal Housing Plans and help people to action their support needs
- Provide support on budgeting, maximizing income, reducing expenditure, dealing with debt, rent arrears and welfare benefits including Housing Benefit
- Working with a range of agencies to promote health and well being, including harm reduction to reduce the impact of risky behaviours such as alcohol and/or drugs misuse
- To sign post clients to specialist organization
- To liaise with colleagues and other partners in event of tenancy breakdown
- To maintain accurate Arthur records
- To record and report safeguarding concerns in line with Caridon Foundation duties and established policies and procedures
- To attend multi-agency meetings to promote the needs of clients or Caridon Foundation
- To refer clients to Resettlement Housing Officer in the event of tenancy breakdown
- To carry out regular planned visits in order to maintain the support service for tenants
- To provide monthly statistics
- To ensure confidentiality and data protection are observed at all times in compliance with the Data Protection Act & the General Data Protection Regulation
- To stand in for other team members as and when required
Communications
- Contribute to Group Newsletter
- Collate case studies, photographs and information from the field and provide to Public Relations
Personal Specification
Experience
- At least two year’s experience in support work or similar role
- Demonstrable ability to develop nonjudgmental professional relationships with vulnerable clients i.e. people with mental health issues, substance misuse
- Experience working with those who have experienced homeless
- To be able to communicate well with clients and peers
- Ability to work positively without direct supervision, managing own time, meeting deadlines and undertaking training
- Ability to liaise positively with other agencies
- A knowledge of Health & Safety legislation to include basic first aid, food hygiene and infection control
Skills and Competencies
- Computer literate (Excel, Word, Outlook and the Internet)
- Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritize own workload
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and work well under pressure
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Acts as a role model to others in the team, sharing knowledge and experience when necessary, whilst respecting and valuing the contribution other team member’s experiences can bring